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The Conception of “Reason” in Modern Ecological Theory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 November 2009

Koula Mellos
Koula Mellos
Affiliation:
University of Ottawa
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Abstract

This article examines two opposing theoretical paradigms on social, political, economic and ecological questions, namely the neo-Malthusian and the futurological. It argues that these paradigms share an underlying Hobbesian assumption of human nature but differ in their response to this assumption. It argues further that the opposing response to a common assumption holds the key to their respective conceptions of reason. Finally, the article assesses the validity of the paradigms as models for public policy-making and outlines the relative theoretical and practical problems of each.

Résumé

Ce texte examine deux paradigmes théoriques qui s'opposent sur les plans social, politique, et écologique, à savoir, les paradigmes néo-malthusien et futurologique. Il est ici proposé que ces paradigmes partagent un présupposé anthropologique hobbesien mais q'ils different dans leur réaction respective à ce présupposé. Il est en plus proposé que la réponse opposée à la prémisse commune apporte la clé à leur conception respective de la raison. Finalement, la validité de ces paradigmes en tant que modèles de prise de décision politique est évaluée tout en examinant les problèmes théoriques et pratiques de chacun.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique , Volume 21 , Issue 4 , December 1988 , pp. 715 - 728
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Political Science Association (l'Association canadienne de science politique) and/et la Société québécoise de science politique 1988

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